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(23/11/2014 09:30)kuyoyo Wrote: [ -> ]Still a small number of Olympians left - and they'll likely see in 2015 as, at present, there is nothing on order.

Ah well, with a few still in service it is a nice bit of forward planning for the final Olympian to be preserved now. I think the Palatine IIs looked more modern than the Lolynes that followed.

(23/11/2014 21:13)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]Ah well, with a few still in service it is a nice bit of forward planning for the final Olympian to be preserved now. I think the Palatine IIs looked more modern than the Lolynes that followed.

Just to expand on this, the current Olympians still within the fleet are;

3813 - S813 FVT - based at Stanley Depot
3814 - S814 FVT - based at Stanley Depot
3818 - S818 OFT - based at Riverside Depot
3819 - S819 OFT - based at Riverside Depot
3822 - S822 OFT - based at Stanley Depot
3823 - S823 OFT - based at Stanley Depot
3824 - S824 OFT - based at Riverside Depot
3825 - S825 OFT - based at Stanley Depot
3830 - S830 OFT - based at Stanley Depot
3831 - S831 OFT - based at Stanley Depot
3832 - S832 OFT - based at Stanley Depot

Only weeks ago, 3833 (S833 OFT) entered preservation with the County Durham Bus Preservation Group. It was the last step-entrance vehicle to be purchased by Go Northern for their fleet in 1998. 3828 (S828 OFT) and 3829 (S829 OFT) were recently withdrawn from Stanley Depot, too.

To expand on this - earlier in the year, 3821 (S821 OFT) was involved in an RTA whilst operating a scholars service at Stanley, and was withdrawn as a result. It's replacement was 3816 (S816 OFT). Only weeks later 3816 was involved in a serious RTA (don't know if it may have been on the news across the country - but it was that head-on collision involving two school buses, 3816 being the double decker involved) and was written off due to the extensive damage it received. 3819 (S819 OFT) was sent up to Stanley from Riverside, and during the summer holidays it returned to Riverside Depot after some of Stanley's scholars contracts were lost. As it stands, there are currently 11 Olympians.

If you are intending to ride one of these, I recommend trying at Stanley rather than Gateshead (Riverside). You will likely find these on Services X30, X31, X43 and 'Diamond' Services 43/44/44A. If you went a bit further, to Consett, you may catch one on Services X70, X71, 15/15A, and 'Red Kite' Services 45/46.

Go North East operated a handful of services today, these being on routes X40 and X50, the latter known as 'the soccer bus', shuttling football fans to St. James' Park for the match.

'TEN' branded Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2s were used on both routes - these being 6071, 6074, 6083 on the X40, and 6079, 6080 and 6081 on the X50.

Jewish Scholars service 850 was also in operation today.

Deptford-based Scania L94UA/Wright Solar 4945 - NK52 OLJ has returned to service following repaint at Saltmeadows Road into a purple base coat. It is expected to act as a reserve for 'Prince Bishops' Services 20/20A/X20.

It was previously branded under the 'Laser' network.

MPD 562 - NK53 TLY - has returned to service at Percy Main depot following repaint into the corporate livery at Saltmeadows.

In other news, Citaro 5332 - BJ10 VUS - has left Riverside for Saltmeadows, expecting to be repainted into the corporate livery like 562, it was formerly branded under the 'Crusader' service 27, and is leaving the brand due to a decrease in PVR following service changes this month.

Saw an unidentified Venture Solo SR on the 'Lime' 78 service this evening. Quite rare, but while these are based at Consett, their mother depot is Stanley and they go there for maintenance, etc.

Citaro 5332, mentioned a couple of posts ago, has returned to Riverside depot after repaint at Saltmeadows Road. Reportedly on 49s.

Also, the Solo SR on the 'Lime' services last night was 646.

Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5332 is in Blaydon Racers livery.

Following on from my previous post - it turns out the Third Party company who sort out branding and vinyls made a mistake with 5332 - and put her in Blaydon Racers livery when she needed to be in the corporate livery. This has been corrected now.

Wt Gemini 6084 appeared in Middlesbrough yesterday (Monday) in its new all-red livery on X9/10.